It’s tempting, but I think I’ll pass. Patrick Stewart was once outraged when, at the start of the performance of his one-man show of “A Christmas Carol”, a bunch of Trekkers turned up in the audience, all wearing full Starfleet uniform (and no, I was not one of them).

I’m afraid I just don’t see where the problem lies in this story. As I commented on Recess Monkey, who broke it, it seems while we’re usually upset about politicians who take money and then endorse their sponsors, now we’re upset about someone who is able to accept a donation without it affecting their views or corrupting them. That seems a little tricksy to me.

Gove accepted a donation off somebody when he needed money, and didn’t let that stop him later speaking against them later when he (for whatever reason) felt they needed speaking out against. That’s good! That’s how we want MPs to act! Stop making out he’s somehow corrupt!

I’m certainly not accusing Michael of corruption. At the most, I think this is a bit embarrassing for him, given that he said in his speech: “We should ask those who make profits out of revelling in, or encouraging, selfish irresponsibility among young men what they think they’re doing.”

Well, what some of them are doing is using those profits to make donations to Michael Gove.

Is this a story we should all get excited about?
After all, £2k for an MP is small change when it comes to expenses and compared to donation from millionaires it’s just chicken feed..

Mind you I do think MPs and Ministers and their Shadows should be careful in their choice of sponsors: after all some might want favours in return… like knighthoods or planning permission or relaxing laws on F1 tobacco sponsordhip etc. 🙂

In the scheme of things, it’s just summer tittle tattle – but still hardly well advised..